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linux-ime

Diagnose and repair Linux input method configuration issues for fcitx5 and ibus.

6|1|Updated May 11, 2026
Search Tags:#troubleshooting#linux#ubuntu#fcitx5#input method#ibus#chinese input
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/yakeworld/Synthos --skill linux-ime-yakeworld
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: linux-ime
Source: https://github.com/yakeworld/Synthos/tree/main/skills/private/linux-ime
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/yakeworld/Synthos --skill linux-ime-yakeworld

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve? Chinese input stops working on Linux when environment variables, xinput.d files, or snap-packaged browsers conflict with the installed input method framework, and this Skill provides a systematic diagnostic and repair workflow to restore IME functionality. ## Core Features & Use Cases - Root Cause Patterns: Identifies eight common failure modes including GTK_IM_MODULE mismatches, fcitx4/fcitx5 coexistence residue, snap Firefox hardcoded ibus, and pty terminal limitations. - Ordered Diagnostics: Walks through package checks, environment variable inspection, config file priority analysis (xinput.d > environment.d > .bashrc), and IM module file verification. - Repair Commands: Provides ready-to-run sed, tee, and snap removal commands to unify variables to fcitx5 or ibus and clean stale configurations. - Use Case: A user on Ubuntu 24.04 finds gedit shows no Chinese candidate window despite fcitx5 running; the Skill traces the issue to fcitx4-era values in /etc/X11/xinit/xinput.d/fcitx and fixes them. ## Quick Start Diagnose why Chinese input is not working in my GTK applications on Ubuntu and fix the input method configuration.

Frequently Asked Questions about linux-ime

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I fix Chinese input not working in Linux GTK applications?▼

Check that GTK_IM_MODULE, QT_IM_MODULE, and XMODIFIERS all match your installed framework (fcitx5 or ibus) using env | grep. Then inspect /etc/X11/xinit/xinput.d/ for stale fcitx4 configs, which override other settings, and unify all values to fcitx5.

Why does Firefox ignore GTK_IM_MODULE on Ubuntu?▼

Snap-packaged Firefox hardcodes the ibus backend and ignores GTK_IM_MODULE entirely, while AppArmor sandboxing blocks ibus-daemon connections. Verify with readlink -f $(which firefox); if the path contains /snap/firefox/, remove the snap and install the deb version instead.

fcitx5 vs ibus: which input method framework should I use on Linux?▼

Both are supported, but all configuration must consistently point to one framework. When switching between them, delete the old framework's file in /etc/X11/xinit/xinput.d/, create the new one, and log out or restart the display manager for changes to take effect.

Why does input method not work in tmux or pty terminals?▼

Virtual terminals created via pty have no X11 display or Wayland socket, so fcitx5 or ibus daemons cannot inject candidate windows. This is a design limitation; use a GUI terminal directly or write Chinese content to files instead.

How do I fix slow ibus-libpinyin candidate suggestions?▼

Disable network candidates by setting enableNetworkCandidate=false in ~/.config/ibus/libpinyin/user.conf, delete network.bin and opengram.dbin cloud data files, then restart ibus-daemon. Cloud prediction is the main latency source.

What is the config file priority for Linux input method environment variables?▼

The priority order is /etc/X11/xinit/xinput.d/ first, then /etc/environment.d/, then ~/.bashrc. A stale fcitx4 file in xinput.d overrides everything else, which is the most common cause of fixes in .bashrc appearing to have no effect.

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